There are steppes on all continents, they just call them differently. In Eurasia, these are vast steppe zones in Ukraine and Russia, in Africa and Australia - savannahs, in South America - pampas, in North - prairies. But whatever you call these biological systems, the environmental problems of the steppe zone are almost the same everywhere.
What is the steppe?
Steppe is called flat areas overgrown with herbaceous plants. They are located in the temperate and subtropical zone of both hemispheres. A characteristic feature of the steppes is the absence of trees. Forest belts here are planted artificially.
Climatic conditions
Steppe zones are usually located in temperate continental and sharply continental climates. Summer is hot, sometimes even too much, as the temperature rises above +40. There is little rain. Winter can be moderately mild and severe. There is little snow. He poorly covers the ground, often moves by snow.
Animals and plants
Before describing the environmental problems of the steppe zone, it is necessary to tell what animals and plants can be found here. The flora of the steppes is represented by a diverse grass carpet. In the steppes, grass, feather grass, grass fescue, sheep and a large number of bulbous species grow. Steppe plants are adapted for long periods of drought, so they grow actively in spring, using moist soil after winter.
Animals in the steppe zones are mostly nocturnal, as they are forced to wait out hot days. Antelopes, many rodents, jerboas, eagles, kestrels, larks are found here. In addition, there are a large number of snakes and insects. By the way, most birds fly away to other zones for the winter. Plants and animals fully feel the problems of the steppe zone, and, unfortunately, the person is to blame for most of these problems.
Causes of Environmental Concerns
Steppe zones are perfectly adapted for agricultural work. The man received ready-made arable land and satisfying pastures. But the irrational use of these lands very quickly depletes their resource. Ecological problems of the steppe zone lead to the destruction of the steppes and the absorption of these territories by the forest-steppe and deserts. Even the special term “desertification” has been introduced. This is the process of ecosystem degradation, the deterioration of its biological potential.
Since droughts and dry winds are frequent in the steppe zones, people began not only to plow, but also to irrigate large areas of the steppes. Irrigation is called artificial watering of the soil. To supply water, irrigation systems and hydraulic structures are being built. This allows you to grow stable crops, but has threatening consequences:
- degradation of landscapes begins;
- salinization of soil and natural reservoirs occurs;
- waste water poses a threat to pollution of natural water bodies;
- salt lakes are formed in places of discharge of drainage;
- ground dips occur;
- Soils and water bodies are polluted by toxins and nitrates (including groundwater and groundwater).
Despite the fact that irrigation provides a high economic effect in agriculture, it exacerbates the environmental problems of the steppe. This means that a person needs to think through ways to minimize problems.
How to reduce the negative impact of man
To preserve the steppe zones, a number of activities are being developed. They are aimed at reducing the problem and restoring the ecological balance. Ecological problems of the steppe zone are solved as follows:
- protected areas and nature reserve funds are being created;
- lists of endangered plants and animals are compiled for inclusion in the Red Book;
- measures are being taken to preserve and restore endangered species of flora and fauna;
- limited to the withdrawal of chernozemic land for misuse;
- modernization of agricultural machinery;
- land is being restored;
- landscapes disturbed in the process of economic activity are being restored.
Ecological problems of the steppe zone require maximum attention, as the steppes gradually disappear from the face of the earth.